Hearts 0-1 Rangers: Visitors 'not perfect' but Clement sees 'a team' after 'difficult' win
- Published
Rangers forward Abdallah Sima has now scored 12 goals this season
Philippe Clement concedes his Rangers side are not perfect, but the manager says "I see a team now" after they beat Hearts at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership.
Fresh off scoring a double against St Mirren on Sunday, Abdallah Sima raced on to a defence-splitting James Tavernier pass to fire in a first-half winner, stretching Clement's unbeaten start to 11 games.
A 10th victory in 11 meetings against Hearts, who remain third, means Rangers stay eight points behind leaders Celtic with a game to spare.
Prior to the opener, the visitors offered the home side hope with some slack play as Lawrence Shankland forced Jack Butland into a fine near-post stop before Alex Cochrane's rebound was somehow blocked on the line by captain Tavernier.
But Clement's men improved after their goal and could have gone into the break two up when Danilo, who had an earlier finish ruled out for offside, was denied just yards out by the boot of Clark at close range.
Rangers ought to have killed the game by the 70th minute, but Danilo could only hit Kyosuke Tagawa on the line after Clark inexplicably spilled before Ridvan Yilmaz flashed two efforts off target either side of a close-range Connor Goldson header.
Kenneth Vargas could have made the wasteful visitors pay for their profligacy, but Butland emphasised his importance to the Ibrox side with another top save to his left.
"We made it difficult for ourselves," Clement told BBC Scotland. "If you have five big chances in an away game, we should at least score three - and then it would be a different game.
"But I told them in the dressing room they are fighting now, they are a team. Whoever comes in does the job and works hard. Is everything perfect? No, but I see a team now. This mentality makes a difference."
Player of the match - Jack Butland (Rangers)
Arguably Rangers' player of the season so far, the former England keeper bailed out a wasteful attack with vital stops at vital times
Butland highlights value but attacking concerns linger - analysis
Clement's reaction at the full-time whistle said it all. Yes, he will have gripe about his attack spurning a load of opportunities again, but the Belgian knows how big a win this was for his side.
On nights like this, you need your goalkeeper to be your safety net and Butland provided that again. The standout summer signing has been integral in Rangers boasting the Premiership's best defensive record this term.
Conceding just seven times in 15 fixtures is a very impressive return, with just two of those goals coming on the road in eight games.
If Naismith could turn back the clock, would he decide to inject more pace into his attack from kick-off?
Hearts could have perhaps capitalised on Rangers' sloppy early play with more speed in their frontline. A counter-attacking situation in the first half highlighted that as Shankland looked to race clear but instead had to shoot from distance with a lack of support either side.
Naismith will also have concerns about the other end. Rangers' goal was far too easy and on another night they could have bagged plenty.
But the Hearts boss will be buoyed by the comebacks of key trio Craig Gordon, Craig Halkett and Barrie McKay, who was the only one to make a return off the bench.
Rangers, meanwhile, will be fearing another injury lay-off for Tom Lawrence after the midfielder had to be removed from the action in the first half.
What they said
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "When we moved the ball without overthinking it, we were decent and created chances.
"We have a big chance in the first half [through Cochrane] then we lose a poor goal. When you play the Old Firm, you need to make sure you don't unravel and I don't think we did."
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "We were strong in the duels, but we need to finish off our chances.
"[If you don't] then the belief stays with the other side with long balls and throw-ins. If one ball drops badly, you can be in trouble, but the team stood firm."
What's next?
Both sides return to action on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as Rangers host Dundee while Hearts travel to Aberdeen.